Best of 2017

A little too much.

With a grunt of frustration, I dig around in my purse to locate the morning-after pill I bought on the way to work this morning. I’m praying to God he’s clean because we had sex carelessly four times without a condom. I quickly down the pill with my water bottle and put my purse away.

Heat creeps up my neck as I steal a glance toward his office. The door is closed, and I can hear Jeff’s deep voice booming on the other side. Whatever they’re talking about doesn’t seem like it’s good.

Once my computer is finally powered up, I find I have two emails waiting for me. The first is from Clint and the second is from Gray. I ignore Mr. Fuck-A-Lot and open the important one. Clint’s sent me a Word document, listing all of all my new duties. I already do everything on the list each day, aside from manage people. After I reply to him that I received it and save it for easy access, I open Gray’s email.

Violet,

Last night was incredible. YOU are incredible. I want to take you to lunch.

Gray

I smile because he’s pretty incredible too. After my ex, I should be hesitant to dive right into something with someone—my boss no less—so quickly, especially considering he’s extremely attentive but I can’t help myself. His magnetism draws me in.

Vaughn was the same way…

I squash the thought because I refuse to let my past dictate my future. Gray is generous and thoughtful and sweet. He’s not psychotic. I’ve worked for him for six long years, and although he’d been nicknamed Mad Max for his eccentric ways, not one time had I thought he was an evil person.

He’s just hyper-focused.

Obsessive about his company.

Driven to succeed.

But not a possessive lunatic.

I’m still trying to convince myself when Gray’s office door creaks open, and Jeff steps out. His gaze darts over to mine. Guilt shines in his eyes. My heart rate speeds up, and I frown at him. He gives me a quick wave in greeting before stalking back to his office. I’m still staring at him when Gray comes sauntering out. He’s scowling until he sees me. All irritation melts from his expression as his face lights up. And dammit, I feel my face lighting up too. I love how my presence seems to cheer him up.

“Good morning,” I say with a smile.

He strolls over to my desk and sits on the edge. When he reaches out to toy with a strand of my hair, my eyes flutter closed and I exhale a tiny sigh. His fingertips brush along my jaw and down my throat. I pop my eyes open when he touches the string of pearls my mother gave to me as a high school graduation present.

“I like this necklace on you,” he praises, his dark brows pulled together as he inspects my jewelry. This necklace was the only thing I was able to take with me when I ran away from Vaughn because I happened to be wearing it that day.

My heart is thundering because, God, he smells delicious and he’s touching me intimately, despite our workplace setting. Warning bells are going off inside my head because all it takes is the wrong person seeing our exchange to give me hell. Unfortunately for me, I’ve never been one to heed warnings very well and tend to float off into the deep end without a raft.

Gray will save me.

Once, I thought Vaughn would too.

A rough thumb brushes against my bottom lip and my eyes dart to his. His icy blue eyes are narrowed as he scrutinizes me. Seconds pass by—tick, tick, tick—as I remain under his microscope. The thing with Gray is, it’s almost as if he can see right into my head. As if he knows exactly what’s running through my mind. I feel naked and exposed around him.

“Are you sore?” he questions, his voice husky. His eyes flicker with heat that burns its way straight to my core.

I jerk my gaze around the office but nobody is paying attention. “Yes,” I admit with a whisper.

A smug grin tugs at his handsome mouth. “Good. I like the idea of you thinking about my big cock every time you sit down.”

“Gray!” I hiss and once again do a visual sweep of the office for nosy co-workers.

He shrugs. “What? I’m just being honest. How busy are you right now?”

This feels like a trick question, and like the naïve girl I am, I follow him right into the proverbial white van where he promises candy and puppies. “Not very busy.”

“Good,” he says with a wolfish grin that has my panties becoming wet between my thighs. “I need your assistance in my office.”

He stands and turns away to walk back to his room. My gaze roams his fit body that looks too perfect in a suit. It’s a good thing I’m leaving this company soon because having to stare at him each day looking good enough to eat is quite distracting.

I’ll be leaving soon.

Several days ago, I’d have been thrilled.

But that was all before Gray finally noticed me.

Guilt and indecision wars within me. He’s already done so much for me. We’ve gone from co-workers to friends to lovers in a matter of days. Grayson Maxwell is so intense that I’ve easily been swept up into his vortex.

How will it feel when I finally crawl my way out?

Will I be the same?

Rising from my chair, I push away those thoughts for now as I stride into his office and close the door behind me.

“Lock it.”

His rough command sends shivers through my body. I flip the lock and regard him with my hands on my hips.

“What do you need help with?” I question, my voice raw and shaky.

He sheds his jacket and hangs it on the back of his chair. The powder blue dress shirt he’s wearing today molds perfectly against his skin. I can see his tattoos through the fabric and it sends another thrill shooting through me.

“Gray,” I try again, my voice rising. “What do you need?”

He arches a brow at me and pins me with a smoldering glare. “You know what I need.”

As I choke on my words, he unbuttons his shirt at his wrist and begins rolling up his sleeve. The veins in his forearm bulge and the muscles flex with his movement. I find myself staring at his wrist of all things with my mouth watering for a taste. He continues on with the other side. Then, he begins working at the knot on his navy-colored tie.

My body is about to combust. Between my thighs, my panties are drenched. Hardened nipples scratch against my bra. And an internal fire alights my flesh from the inside out. He sheds the tie and undoes the first two buttons before placing his hands on his hips to mimic my position.

“I need you to look over some contracts with me. I want some advice,” he says as he strolls over to sit in his chair. I’m so dumbfounded by the quick turn of events that it takes me a second for my mind to catch up to his words.

“Contracts?” I murmur.

His dark brow arches up again, and he smiles crookedly at me. “Contracts.” Then his gaze narrows as he roams my body. “You didn’t think we were going to fuck in here, did you? With everyone listening?”

I swallow and shake my head before hurrying over to the seat across from his desk. Snagging the nearest folder on his desk, I snap it open and stare at the words on a page. My brain is running a hundred miles per hour. Nothing on the page makes sense.

He reaches across the desk and snags my wrist. I let out a yelp when he pulls my hand to his face. Then, in a shocking move, he sucks on my middle finger. I dart my gaze to his blazing one, my lips parted open in surprise. His tongue teases the underside of my finger like he’s done on my clit which has a low moan escaping me.

“Baby,” he growls and playfully bites my flesh before pulling away. “I most definitely want to fuck you. Right here on this desk. I want to make you scream. I want your pussy to drip all over these files and smear the ink. Violet, I want my cock buried so deep in your sore cunt that you beg me to stop.” Another growl. “But that’s the thing, beautiful, I wouldn’t be able to stop. I’d fuck you all day over and over. You’d be weak from all the orgasms, and I’d be worthless to run this company. Together, we’re explosive.” He kisses t

he tip of my finger. “Which is why the fireworks have to stay outside of this building.”

I swallow and nod. “You drive me crazy with the way you talk…”

“I know.” He winks and flashes me a knowing grin before releasing me.

Now that I know I won’t be getting spread out over the desk and feasted upon like a Thanksgiving dinner, I can focus. Focus. Focus.

Violet, focus.

“I HAD A PET BIRD ONCE,” he murmurs, his voice soft.

My fingers had been stroking circles on his bare chest. “Mmm?” I look up to find him staring up at my bedroom ceiling, lost in thought. After a productive day at work, he took me out for sake and sushi. Then, we ended up in my bed where he made me come so hard I nearly forgot my name.

But I didn’t forget the condom.

I managed to throw one at him and even ignored his groans of complaint.

The sex was amazing.

This cuddling thing, though, is even better. I’d missed human connection. Simple kissing and touching.

“I’d been hunting quail with my dad. We killed a mother. She left behind a squawking baby bird. My father was pissed when I told him I was going to keep it as a pet,” he tells me gruffly. “I hardly ever acted out against my father. But I wanted it, Violet. I needed it. Something about that bird spoke to me.”

I smile because him caring for a little bird is sweet. “How old were you?”